Campgrounds near Lakeside, Connecticut range from rustic riverfront sites to full-service facilities with modern amenities. The western Connecticut region sits at elevations between 700-1,100 feet with terrain characterized by forested hills and small valleys surrounding numerous lakes and waterways. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 55-65°F overnight, making sleeping conditions comfortable for tent campers.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Point Folly Campground sits directly on Bantam Lake where visitors can fish and kayak. "Clean and quiet. Beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing. Small little island," notes Mary C., highlighting the access to water activities.
Hiking trails: Macedonia Brook State Park Campground offers scenic mountain trails with varying difficulty levels. "The loop hike over the mountains was good, at times more intermediate than beginner and I wouldn't try to go it with younger kids. We did the east side one afternoon and the west the next," explains one camper, suggesting breaking up the trail into sections.
Swimming and water recreation: Visitors at Black Rock State Park Campground enjoy water activities in addition to hiking trails. "Beautiful state park, very clean... fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails," reports Michelle B., noting the diverse recreational options within a single location.
What campers like
Dark sky viewing: Macedonia Brook provides exceptional stargazing opportunities. "Well spaced sites. No bathhouse, just portable toilets and a few water pumps. And a night sky as dark as you can find in CT," reports Kate, highlighting the appeal for astronomy enthusiasts.
Clean facilities: Cozy Hills Campground receives consistent praise for maintenance. "Clean. Well run campground. Beautiful area. Fishing on site. Crafts and events. Great camp store and grill and hot food," shares Daniel M., noting both cleanliness and amenities.
Extended season camping: While many state parks close by early September, Cozy Hills operates from mid-April through mid-October, and Gentiles Campground remains open year-round. "Was here for Three months and it was during the winter and didn't have any problems great people sell propane on site, and will answer any questions you have," reports Jacob S. about Gentiles.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly across campgrounds. At Macedonia Brook, "No cell service," reports Neil T., while another camper mentions, "it does have some cell service but you got a gift towards the building I believe there's a repeater or a satellite relay in the building."
Site privacy considerations: Lake Waramaug State Park Campground has site placement issues. "This is an elbow to elbow parking lot of a campground. All their campground rules were unenforced, so it is a drinking party atmosphere," writes Thomas M., suggesting weekday visits for more solitude.
Facilities availability: Campgrounds range from primitive to full-service. At Macedonia Brook, expect "No bathhouse, just portable toilets and a few water pumps," while Cozy Hills offers "Very nice facilities. Most of the short-term sites are on a separate loop from the seasonals, which made for a nice short-term community."
Tips for camping with families
Family activities: Lake Compounce Campground provides organized programming. "They have a small playground, activities, tennis court, basketball. Not to mention it's next to the amusement park," notes Nichol P., making it ideal for families seeking structured recreation.
Kid-friendly water options: Kettletown State Park offers accessible water recreation. "The reason why I said that place is perfect kids? It has a huge land of campsite that the kids can run around until their energy out for the night! Plus you would see awesome stars during the nighttime," shares Jennifer H.
Wildlife awareness: Families should prepare for wildlife encounters. "The place is clean it has running water has a porta potty and festival you don't have to worry because the state of Connecticut DEEP is just a phone call away," explains Merle S. at Macedonia Brook, noting the availability of ranger assistance if needed.
Tips from RVers
Site layout considerations: Kettletown State Park Campground provides variable site arrangements. "We tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. Site 11, while large, was uneven and had some large tree roots that would be easy to trip over," advises Kristin, highlighting the importance of site selection.
Limited hookup options: RVers should note that many state parks have limited utility connections. Lake Compounce Campground offers "electric, water and cable TV connections" according to Richard, but "NO sewer hookups, but does have a dump station."
Maneuverability challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access for larger vehicles. At Gentiles Campground, campers report "roads were narrow and steep and hard to maneuver bigger trailers and rigs," suggesting careful research for those with larger RVs.
